Congratulations on your decision to apply to the University of Maryland School of Nursing! We take pride in our legacy of leadership. As part of our community you will learn from renowned scholars, teachers, researchers, and clinicians. Our goal is to shape the practice of nursing through scholarship in order to provide better health care outcomes locally, regionally, and nationally.
As you take the first step to join our community, we hope you will find our online application process easy and convenient. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Admissions at 410-706-0501 or admissions@son.umaryland.edu.
Please read the instructions below in entirety before beginning your online application. You should have your credit card ready when you submit your application online to pay the $50 application fee. You will be asked to create a Login ID and Personal Identification Number (PIN), which will enable you to return to your application as many times as you like before your final submission. Your Login ID and PIN will also allow you to check your application status. Please note that the Login ID is case sensitive.
In addition to the online application, supporting material is required of applicants in each admission category. All materials submitted must include your full name on each page. Please complete the application before sending supporting material. Contact the Office of Admissions if any of your supporting material was sent prior to the submission of your application. Supporting material must be sent to:
University of Maryland School of Nursing
Office of Student and Academic Services
655 West Lombard Street, Suite 102
Baltimore, MD 21201-1579
Applications and supporting material submitted to the School of Nursing become the property of the University of Maryland and will not be returned. Applicants should make and retain copies of all application documents before submission.
The University of Maryland School of Nursing offers all of its programs at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, Md. The traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing option, the RN-BSN classroom-based option, and selected Master of Science courses are offered at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Md. All application materials, regardless of location, must be sent to the Baltimore address above.
$50 (U.S. currency), non-refundable application fee made payable to the “University of Maryland.” Applications will not be processed until the application fee is received. It is strongly recommended that you pay the application fee online. If not, you can send a personal check or money order to the University of Maryland School of Nursing, Office of Student and Academic Services, 655 W. Lombard St., Suite 102, Baltimore, MD 21201-1579. If the cardholder or check writer is a person other than the applicant, you should contact the Office of Admissions to ensure that your payment is applied correctly.
An official transcript from each college, university, or professional school you have attended, whether or not a degree was earned. An official transcript must be submitted to the Office of Student and Academic Services in a sealed envelope, as prepared by the sending institution. Electronic transcripts from University System of Maryland institutions will be accepted in lieu of official, sealed envelopes.
Statement of Goals and Objectives (typed). You may submit your statement of goals and objectives with your online application. Your statement will also serve as your writing sample. We recommend that you compose your statement using word processing software and copy and paste it into the text box in the online application. If you do not submit your statement online, you should mail it to the Office of Student and Academic Services or e-mail it to admissions@son.umaryland.edu.
Resume or CV (typed). Resumes are to be submitted by U.S. mail or e-mail to admissions@son.umaryland.edu. Be sure to include your full name with your resume submission.
Two recent letters of recommendation. Letters submitted for BSN and Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) applicants must come from academic sources. Letters submitted for RN-BSN, RN-MS, MS, and Post-MS (non-degree) applicants must come from professional sources. Letters of recommendation may be submitted on the University of Maryland School of Nursing Recommendation form (PDF) or on the official company stationery of the recommender with a valid signature. Recommendations must include the phone number and e-mail address of the recommender. Recommendations may be submitted to the University of Maryland School of Nursing by U.S. mail or e-mail to admissions@son.umaryland.edu.
Application for in-state Status Classification (if applicable). Applicants who are claiming in-state (Maryland) residency MUST complete the Status Classification form. Download, print, and complete the form and submit it by mail.
Your application and all supporting documents must be received by the deadline in order to ensure review for a particular term.
All application materials submitted by U.S. mail should be addressed to the University of Maryland School of Nursing as noted in the first paragraph of "Instructions and Requirements."
Clearly identify yourself by using your complete name, where appropriate, on all application materials submitted by U.S. mail.
Indicate any maiden or previous names on the electronic application.
The University of Maryland School of Nursing offers a PhD program. Applications to the PhD (Nursing) program are submitted through the University of Maryland Graduate School. For more information on the PhD program, go to here »
If the cardholder or check writer is a person other than yourself, contact the Office of Admissions to ensure that your payment is applied correctly.
If you are applying to the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) option, you must select ”NURS-MS,” and then choose CNL as an option on the online application.
If you hold an active Maryland RN license, you must send us a copy of your printable license verification, available on the Maryland Board of Nursing website.
If you are a military applicant, contact the Office of Admissions after submitting your application.
To view the status of your application, use the Login ID and PIN that you created when you completed the online application.
If you have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree or are a graduate of the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) option, do not submit an application to the RN-MS option. BSN-prepared nurses should apply to MS specialties; CNL-prepared nurses should apply to the Post-MS option.
If you are a Coursework Only (CWO) applicant who is also interested in an MS specialty for a future term, you will be required to submit an MS application, application fee, and supporting materials, including official transcripts.
To check the status of your application, go to https://www.simsweb.umaryland.edu/pls/SIMS/bwskalog.P_DispLoginNon and use the Login ID and PIN you created when you submitted your online application. Your Login ID is case sensitive.
Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score report or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) print out sent to the University of Maryland School of Nursing by the testing agency. The School of Nursing school code is: 5944. Please note: applicants who have successfully completed a high school, associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degree at an accredited U.S. high school, college, or university are not required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score. Applicants who do not have a degree from a U.S. institution but for whom English is their native/first language are not required to submit official TOEFL or IELTS scores. Scores older than two years prior to the date of application will not be accepted.
Minimum TOEFL scores to be considered for admission are 550 on the paper-based examination, 213 on the computer-based examination, and 79 on the Internet-based examination. IELTS test takers must score no less than Band 6.5 for BSN or Band 7 for MS (total).
Applicants who complete coursework outside the U.S. must have official transcript(s) evaluated by a recognized international credit evaluation service. Official evaluation of all foreign (non-U.S.) coursework must be sent to the University of Maryland School of Nursing by the service. Evaluations from only the following agencies are accepted:
Yes, you are required to take the test if you do not have a U.S. high school diploma or a U.S. college degree.
No, you must have a course-by-course evaluation done by one of the following companies:
All BSN applicants must also provide:
Prerequisite Course List. Download, print, and complete the form and submit by mail. Prerequisite courses must be taken at regionally accredited schools. ACE credits are not accepted.
All RN-BSN, RN-BSN Online, and RN-MS applicants must also provide:
Copy of active State of Maryland or compact state RN license submitted by mail or fax to 410-706-7238. For a current list of compact states, see the Maryland Board of Nursing » If you hold an active Maryland RN license, send us a copy of your printable license verification, available on the Maryland Board of Nursing website.
All Clinical Nurse Leader applicants must also provide:
Professional Rescuer (without automatic defibrillator) or Professional Health Care Provider-level CPR certification. The certification does not need to be submitted at the same time as your application, but those seeking certification for the first time, should take the test no more than three months before the first day of class. If you are already certified at the time you apply, you must renew your certification, if necessary, so that it will be active when you start the plan of study. (Certification must remain current throughout the plan of study.)
Prerequisite Course List. Download, print, and complete the form and submit by mail. Prerequisite courses must be taken at regionally accredited schools. ACE credits are not accepted.
Applicants to the CNL program who meet minimum standards to be considered for admission will be asked to interview in person as part of the selection process. The interview will also include a proctored writing sample.
All Master of Science Applicants Must Also Provide:
Copy of active State of Maryland or compact state RN license submitted by mail or fax to 410-706-7238. For a current list of compact states, see the Maryland Board of Nursing » If you hold an active Maryland RN license, send us a copy of your printable license verification, available on the Maryland Board of Nursing website.
Proof of the following is required and is evidenced by the submission of official transcripts: a) baccalaureate degree with an upper division nursing major from an NLNAC or CCNE-accredited program, b) successful completion of a course in elementary statistics or nursing research, and c) successful completion of a physical assessment course, except for applicants to: Nursing and Business Administration (MS/MBA), Health Services Leadership and Management, and Nursing Informatics.
*non-degree
After acceptance to a post-master’s (non-degree) option, students complete a “gap analysis” with the appropriate specialty director to determine what courses will comprise their plan of study. For students enrolled in advanced practice areas of post-master’s study, the goal is to identify courses needed to help those students become eligible to sit for national board certification in the respective specialty. When that plan of study is completed, the students’ transcripts reflect the courses taken and the grades earned. Other than the courses taken and grades earned, there will be no additional notations on the transcript and a diploma will not be granted. The specialty director will complete documentation of courses competed as needed for certifying agencies.
All Post-Master's Option applicants must also provide:
Copy of active State of Maryland or compact state RN license submitted by mail or fax to 410-706-7238. For a current list of compact states, see the Maryland Board of Nursing » If you hold an active Maryland RN license, send us a copy of your printable license verification available on the Maryland Board of Nursing website.
Proof of the following is required and is evidenced by the submission of official transcripts: a) baccalaureate degree with an upper division nursing major from an NLNAC or CCNE-accredited program, b) successful completion of a course in elementary statistics or nursing research, and c) successful completion of a physical assessment course, except for applicants: Nursing and Business Administration (MS/MBA), Health Services Leadership and Management, and Informatics.
Click on one of the links below to see application information for the certificate programs.
*Students applying to the Teaching in Nursing and Health Professions Certificate must EITHER provide proof of current enrollment in a nursing or health sciences MS or PhD program, with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, OR have successfully completed a master's or doctorate in nursing or a related health science field from an accredited college or university.
All applicants for nursing graduate (master's level) non-degree course enrollment (coursework only — CWO) must provide:
$50 (U.S. currency) non-refundable application fee, made payable to the “University of Maryland.”
Copy of State of active Maryland or compact state RN license submitted by mail or fax to 410-706-7238. For a current list of compact states, see the Maryland Board of Nursing. If you hold an active Maryland RN license, send us a copy of your printable license verification, available on the Maryland Board of Nursing website.
An official transcript from each college, university, or professional school you have attended, whether or not credit was earned. An official transcript must be submitted to the Office of Student and Academic Services in a sealed envelope, as prepared by the sending institution. Electronic transcripts from University System of Maryland institutions will be accepted in lieu of official, sealed envelopes.
Proof of successful completion of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an NLNAC or CCNE-accredited program. Such proof is provided through submission of an official transcript in a sealed envelope, as prepared by the sending institution. Electronic transcripts from University System of Maryland institutions will be accepted in lieu of an official, sealed envelope.
Please Note: A coursework only student who decides to seek a master’s degree later must submit a second application to the School of Nursing. Non-degree status does not qualify students for matriculation in the Master of Science Program. If a student is accepted as a degree-seeking student in the master’s program, no more than two coursework-only courses may be used toward a master's degree.
To apply to the PhD program, submit materials to the UM Graduate School and UMSON:
Submit above materials to:
UM Graduate School
Admissions and Enrollment Affairs
620 W. Lexington St., 5th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201
Submit above materials to:
University of Maryland School of Nursing
655 W. Lombard Street, Room 525
Baltimore, MD 21201-1579
E-mail: NursePHD@son.umaryland.edu
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in a program resulting in the award of a master's degree in nursing from an NLNAC- or CCNE-accredited college or university, or an equivalent degree from a comparable foreign university
To apply to the DNP program, download and complete the following forms:
Submit all application materials:
University of Maryland School of Nursing
Office of Admissions
655 West Lombard Street, Suite 102
Baltimore, MD 21201-1579
If you have questions, send the Office of Admissions an e-mail »